A man from St. Paul has been accused of animal cruelty after allegedly binding a dog’s legs and throwing it into an irrigation canal, leading to the dog’s death by drowning, according to court records.
Joshua Balcom, 27, faces charges of animal cruelty resulting in death.
Court documents indicate that Balcom used zip ties to bind the legs of a black lab before throwing the dog into an irrigation ditch near Cushing. The dog’s body was discovered drowned on July 16, approximately a mile downstream.
An affidavit reveals that Balcom and his girlfriend acquired the dog on July 7. The girlfriend reportedly told a sheriff’s deputy that after the dog killed some chickens, she and Balcom decided to kill the dog.
Balcom is set to appear for a probable cause hearing on October 2. He is currently out on a $1,000 cash bond. If convicted, he could face up to two years in prison and a $10,000 fine for the animal cruelty charge.
Balcom’s girlfriend, 28-year-old Sadie Miller from St. Paul, is also charged with felony animal cruelty. Her probable cause hearing is scheduled for the same date, and she faces the same potential penalties if convicted.
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